I loved creating a pocket with these Fri-dies. The heart and card from Shuffle Fri-Dies are perfect for this. This card is great for encouraging someone to follow their heart! I added the paint splatter to compliment the colors of the sequins and heart. The process is much like creating a shaker card, except you use flat double-sided tape (see Therm O Web). It's really easy and fun to do. AND the card stays flat and makes no mess--BONUS!!

As you can see, stamping this card was super easy... I merely took the butterfly (from the top of the stamp) and used it as part of the embellishments. And oh...the big curve die from Avery Elle's Custom Panels came in handy! It sure is fun to "mix it up" and break the rule (if there's one?)!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is still going on. Have you tried the Emboss It Challenge? You can see the details here. There is still lots of time to enter!

I thought I would share a card with embossing on kraft card stock. This time, I used the new Penny Black Stamp set "Dazzler". This set is full of potential! The delicate doily and details make you stamp like an expert! I had made quite a few projects for StampNation with this set and I have found so many possibilities...

I started with the white embossing and then I stamped the rest of the doily images in Cup o' Joe (Hero Arts). I then stamped a few smaller doily images in Pale Tomato (Hero Arts), cut them out and added them with pop dots. Adding a dotty pattern paper for the background brings out the colors even more!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Today's card is a colorful result from playing with Alcohol Inks and Die Cuts. This card is completely FLAT. Keeping the card flat takes a bit of planning and die cutting. But it really is worth the effort.

I started out with making the umbrella die cut on the card stock. Then I created the umbrella die cut with alcohol inks. After running through the Cuttlebug a few times, I basically assembled the dies and fit the pieces into the design like a puzzle.

It was not hard to line up the umbrella images. For the background, I actually messed up on stamping some raindrops (that come with the set). I decided to use a darker colored blue card stock to make a different background. I think it worked! See? I ALWAYS end up with something unexpected simply because I had made some blunders! Love those happy accidents!

About this month's challenge: All skill levels are welcome and you can make anything such as a canvas,
card, scrapbook page, altered item, journal page, etc... You just have
to use more than 2 art mediums. Our challenge for July is to use
something around the house in your project. You can stamp with bubble
wrap, mask with rubber bands, or use old book pages in your background.
Just use something you can find around your house someway in your
project.

As you may know already....I love using household items for my paper-crafting, so this theme is really my type! I took this chance to get a start on a mini album that I bought recently by incorporating two household items (parchment paper and bubble wrap). My art mediums are : Gelatos, inks and watercolors. While I was creating, I thought it would be fun to share a video...

You may see some redundancy (around 4:20) in my video...I think I missed editing that part! Sorry about that!

my mini album page
and card (with Altenew Magnolia set)
I hope you gives me a thumbs up over You Tube if you enjoyed the video! I am still learning and improving on how to make better You Tube videos....thanks for the patience and feedback!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge !! Thank you for joining us for the Spots and Dots Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too :-)

This week the challenge is...

Emboss It

We are usingembossing technique this week. You can dry emboss, heat emboss or even use embossing paste!

I did all three types of embossing. Have you tried embossing on vellum? It is so satisfying! The vellum gives such a floating feel to the design. I love using them on butterfly and flowers images. Choose an intricate stamp and emboss! You don't even need to color them if you use colored embossing powder. The embossed images speak volumes!

edited: I used TWO different embossing powder for the flowers.Dry embossing: Lifestyle embossing folder

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Hello! It's my turn to share some projects with you over CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. I am super excited about this feature...because I made a video for this special occasion!

Ever since Dr. John made the Lego structure for my You Tube video taping, I began to love making videos! I once swore that I would never make videos....Well, as you know, never say never! I mean, I am really terrible not good at it...but I figure the only way to improve is by practicing! Once I got on the You Tube learning frenzy, I learned a bit more about editing and speaking more clearly. I tend to mumble when I made cards...I need to work on that. Well, this is it! My longest video yet at just over 10 minutes! Hope you like it!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Today we are kicking off the StampNation Beach Vacation event with a Blog Hop.

Each of the StampNation Dream Team members, along with some of our crafty friends, are hopping along sharing cards inspired by our first challenge,"Beach Style", as well as a peek at our favorite projects from the event!

Here's my card for the first challenge

About my card: "By using the backside of the flip flop stamp, Virginia created 4
pairs of colorful flip flops. She stamped the flip flop images over the
inked area and then cut them out. The "waves" on top were created by using a
small circle punch".

StampNation Members – look for your 15% off coupon code ONLY for you this week!*

- See more at: http://catherinepooler.com/2014/07/stampnation-beach-vacation/#sthash.3JfH3C6B.dpuf

*StampNation
Members – look for your 15% off coupon code ONLY for you this week!* -
See more at:
http://catherinepooler.com/2014/07/stampnation-beach-vacation/#sthash.3JfH3C6B.dpuf

StampNation Members – look for your 15% off coupon code ONLY for you this week!*

- See more at: http://catherinepooler.com/2014/07/stampnation-beach-vacation/#sthash.3JfH3C6B.dpufYou will have have until 11:59 pm EST on July 27th to leave a comment. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be announced on Monday, July 28th on Catherine's blog.

You can find out more here. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me and I will be happy to answer! Hope that you are enjoying what summer has to offer! Your next hop is the talented Iwona Palamountain. Thanks for stopping by!

Basically, I made a chipboard (with 5 layered dies) and stacked the dies on top of the die cut image. I colored the sentiment with Distress inks and a bit of water. I think it looks quite awesome with the skyscraper image because of the height from the word die.... :)

edited: In order to get a clean and crisp image, I embossed the cities in the black...it was tricky because black embossing powder is not something that you mess with! It took me two tries to get it right.

This die is so easy and fun to use...I am really liking it! I made two die cuts--one light blue and one on watercolor paper ( that I previously made with water and Distress Inks).

For the water-colored die, I first created a colorful background on watercolor paper, then I made the die cut. By slightly overlapping the two dies, it makes a great visual statement. I simply embossed the sentiment on a piece of light blue vellum. Add strings and sequins....done!

What do you think? Do new products make you think outside the box a little? It sure does for me!

Lastly, I want to mention that the StampNation Beach Vacation is almost here!

There will be plenty of prizes from our amazing sponsors...

Lawn FawnEllen HutsonPretty Pink Posh

There will be daily challenges, videos, and dream team inspiration. We also have some fabulous guest designers joining us for a blog hop on July 20th. That's tomorrow! Also, I am hosting a "Virginia's Stamping Clinic" in the Classroom section over SN as well.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Hello! I am sharing a tag card today. It was prompted by a new challenge calledThe Mixed Media Challenge started by the talented Shery R. I "met" Shery through Virginia's View Challenge. Shery wowed me with her many mixed media creations and videos. When I found out that she started this challenge blog, I knew I should join the fun!

For this challenge, we were asked to create a Mixed Media Card (see Mixed Media definition here).Based on the theme, you can create a TAG card with the theme "nature"I made this tag card with all my favorite supplies and techniques.

I also added some Perfect Pearl Liquid Droplets for extra details on the poppies.

The best thing about a Mixed Media project is that there is no absolutely right or wrong way...you pretty much can layer your creations however you want. I find it super relaxing!

For most people, Mixed Media seems a bit challenging, but in reality, most card makers have all these stamping supplies. You can readily get the products out and just see what you can create.
Hope you check out the Mixed Media Challenge and just PLAY.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

I am sharing a quick video about my camera set up with Lego. Since it is now a moveable structure, I thought it would be fun to share a video ( see here )

......and now onto a quick card.
These days there are more new stamps that require multiple stamping.
You wouldn't think to use a stamp like this one to stamp multiple times, right?

Today's card is the result of using this very large and detailed stamp by stamping it multiple times in various inks.

I love the happy stamping accidents. The background is much like a vintage pattern paper. Can you believe that it's entirely stamped? I sort of took the "Velveteen Stamping" approach and did something different with my mistakes. If you would like to see a video on this, perhaps I can make it work, especially now that I have a great camera set up with Lego :)

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge !! Thank you for joining us for the "Let's Be Clear" Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too :-)

This week the challenge is ,,,,,,,,

SPOTS AND DOTS

We are showcasing Paper Smooches Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used.

Here is my take with this week's challenge!
I made a one layer card! And I loved how it turned out.
I used the two small dots and the paint brush from this set ( I heart Art). First I stamped the dots from the larger size to the smaller size and applied the Generation Stamping technique.

That way you get a bokeh effect. Lastly, I used Liquid Pearl and Smooch to add all the fine dots and shine. And of course, adding the sequins (Pretty Pink Posh) was part of the fun.